Heliyon
Volume 6, Issue 3, March 2020, e03505
Journal home page for Heliyon

Research article
Drivers of cervical cancer screening uptake in Ibadan, Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03505Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

Despite the empirical evidence that cervical cancer screening has been a successful public health initiative to secondarily prevent the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer in developed nations, majority of women of sub-Saharan root, Nigeria inclusive, do not utilize this essential health service. This study/article contributes to the empirical literature on the drivers of cervical cancer screening utilization within Nigeria context. The paper investigates the determinants of cervical cancer screening utilization among both working class women and women involved in trading activities in Oyo state, Nigeria. The statistical estimations find strong support for attitudinal correlates, perceived seriousness and family history as drivers of utilization of cervical cancer screening. While only 13.5% of respondents reported to have ever utilized the screening test, majority had positive attitude towards the screening. The screening uptake among the women could improve, if necessary barriers are addressed. The paper highlights policy recommendations for enhancing organized screening guidelines in a developing country.

Keywords

Cancer research
Health sciences
Social sciences
Women
Screening
Nigeria
Cervical cancer

Cited by (0)